Reflex camera with finder focusing system



P 1950 J. A. HAESELER I 2,521,790

REFLEX CAMERA WITH FINDER FOCUSING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 1, 1945 IDDEIDDDD a v INVENTOR IIIII 60 Q I W 27 M Patented Sept. 12, 1950 John A. Haeseler, Woadbridge, Conn. Application September 1, 1945, Serial No. 14,021

6 Claims.' (CI; 95-42) One of the chief handicaps in photography has been the inability'to see exactly the field and image being photographed, and the focus, without imposing lhnitations such as delay: in making the exposure; or increased bulk and weight of equipment. Ordinary finders and distance scales on folding'cameras donot show the photographer whether an object is actually in focus, and they are not practical for close-up, Work, I

"The single lens reflex camera makes it possible to see the exact field of the picture, as well asthe focus, but reflex cameras have been larger and heavier than other types of cameras taking the same size picture. If equipped with a hood they are bulky, and if not so equipped the extraneous light falling on the ground glass usually makes it necessary to focus with a wide stop and then close down to'the proper stop for the exposure or for the depth of focus desired. This closing down is; almost alwaysdone manually and results in a delaybetween focusing and the actual taking of the picture, and this delay is a real handicap, particularly when using the camera to photograph moving objects.

Although twin-lens reflex cameras overcome the need of closing downthelens between the time of focusing and the taking of the picture, the problem of parallax,and the'increased cam,- era size tend to offset this advantage. In order to'mak'e' a reflex camera suitable for both horizontal and vertical pictures, the camera is designed to take a square picture, or a revolving back is used, and the size and weight of the camera are increased.

Another disadvantage of the reflex camera has been that while the top and bottom of the image on the ground glass are seen in correct relation, the sides are reversed, that is, the right is seen on the left, and the left on. the right. Only after long practice does the operator of a .reflex camera overcome the tendency to move the camera in the opposite direction when trying to follow action.

For the still camera therehas been no very satisfactory combinedflnder'and focusing system. The coupled range finder has been widely used but in all but the most elaborate of such range finders parallax'results in the cutting off ofthe-sides of' the picture onfclose views, and such focusingjequipment can ordinarily not be us'dcloser' thanabout "3 ft. 'Eachlens needs its own rackingstructure varying forlenses of different focal lengths; and range finders andcouplings require extreme accuracy in the manufactureand'assembly-of the parts.

"It"is an object of this invention to provide an improved camera with a combined finder and focusing system that is suitable for small, compact"cameras,as"well as for other cameras. The combined finder and focusing systemof this invention utilizes the camera lens and comprises an optical system that magnifies and shows the actual image that'willxbe photographed. The system is contained within the camera casing but does not require any substantial increase in the size of thelcamera. The optical system preferably" terminates at an eyepiece located at a corner of the back of the camera casing.

One feature of the invention is concerned with a relation of the film spools and the optical system of the finder whereby the optical system can pass up from between the spools and then sideways in the same zone ofthe camera cas ing as the spools. The advantage of such a relation is" that the optical system does not require any substantial increase in the depth of the casing than is made necessary by the size of the filth spool flanges."

With the'fin'der of this invention the image seenjthroug'hthe eyepiece iserect and the sides are inf correct relation, that is, right is seen as right, and" left as left. In order to permit the eye togfocus' on a ground glass at a short distance-from the eye, one or more lenses are provided the optical system of this invention, and these lenses serve the further' purpose of magnifying thev image for more accurate focusing. Furthermorathe finder and focusing system of this invention-serves equally well when the camera is held in position for taking either horizontal or vertical pictures.

Other'objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or 'be pointed out as the description proceeds. v

In the drawings, forming a part hereof, in

which likereference characters indicate corresponding-parts of all the views,

Figurel is a rear view, partly in section, showing. a camera equipped with the finder of this invention and moved.

"Figures 2,;3 and 4 are sectional views taken along'the lines 2- 2, 3+3 and 4-4, respectively, p

of; Figure 1 with the back on the camera.

Figurebisa detail view. illustrating the maslgingwhen the mirror reflector is used.

The camera shown in the drawings includes a with supporting means for a lens asthe back of the camera re-.

3 sembly ll connected to the front of the casing, and a finder eyepiece [2 at the back of the casing. The lens assembly is at an intermediate region of the front of the camera casing, but need not be centrally located. The eyepiece is a window in the construction illustrated, but may be a lens in other embodiments, or merely an aperture. There are spools. l5 and I6 rotatable in hearings in the casing lfl, and these spools rotate about parallel vertical axes. The film I8 is wound from the spool l5 to the spool l6 across a frame 2:: directly behind the lens. A film sprocket 2| engages the holes inthe edge'of the film and controls the length of film moved with each operation of the winding mechanism. The

frame has an opening of the size of the picture to be taken on the film. Such structure for holding and moving film is well known and no further illustration of it is necessary for a complete understanding of this invention.

The lens assembly isconventional, and for urposes of this invention it is sufficient to understand that a lens 23 is held in a barrel 24 that moves toward and from the plane of the frame 20 when rotated about the axis of th'elens by means of a handle 25 extending" out from one side of a sleeve 26. This sleeve turns in a bearing 21 on the front of the camera casing. The inside of the sleeve 26 has a steep pitch, multiple lead thread. This thread engages 3. corresponding thread on the outside of the lens barrel shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Such apparatus for focus- .ing cameras is well understood in the art.

The lens 23 serves as the objective forthe finder and focusing system. Between the lens 23 and the frame 28 there is a mirror 30 that refleets light from the lens upward against a ground glass 32. By having the first reflection of the the axes of the spoolsl5and- I6, and then sideways above the level of the spools, the optical system of this invention can be used in'the same casing with the film spools, the flanges. of which so that it is thrown sideways, with respect to the actual object seen, and toward the left hand end of the camera as viewed in Figure 1. In the illustrated construction a prism is used as the reflector above the ground glass 32 and the ground glass is made by providing a ground glass surface on the bottom face of the prism 36. The reflecting surface is the angular face of the prism. It is preferably silvered to give a somewhat brighter reflection, but the angular face of the prism can be used as a reflector without silver surfacing. This reflector 35 is slightly {curved so that it can be of smaller size and still desired.

Near the left-hand end of the casing Hi there a is a reflector 38 for changing the direction of the light beam so that it passes downward to a final 3 reflector assembly 39.

This assembly 39 includes a frame 40 that is fastened to the inside of the camera casing. Within the frame 40"thei'e is a prism 42 having a sloping face 43 for turning the direction of the light beam toward 'theeyepiece 12. The face 43 of the prism 42 is preferablysilvered to increase the brightness of the image.

A lens 45 is located just above the prism 42. This lens makes it possible for a persons eye located at the eyepiece H to focus on the ground glass 42 even though the ground glass is close to the eye. The lens 45 is held in a frame 46 which has a limited sliding movement up and down in the box-like frame) in which the prism42 is held. This movementpermits adjustment of the optical system, for individuals who do not have normal eyesight, or substitute of additional lenses v can be employed to compensate for abnormal vilight beam upward and substantially parallel to extend across the major 'part ofthe depth of the space within the casing. I The firstrefi'ection can, of course, be downward, parallel to the spool axes, and is when the camera is upside'down.

When focusing the camera, the mirror I0 is in the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, but'this mirror is hinged' to the camera casing at the upper edge of the mirror'so that the mirror can be swung upwardand out'of 'theway when the camera is used to take the picture. This is a conventional construction in reflex cameras.

A mask 33 around the edges of theground glass limits the field shown on the ground glass to the same field that is thrownon the film through the openings in the frame 20; ,Thearea provided by the mask 33 around the image on the ground glass, makes it possible to view this image through the finder system without seeing any of the adjacent camera structure. The ground glass 32 is so spaced from the reflecting surface or mirror 30 that adjustment 'ofthe lens 23 to focus an image on the ground glass 32 will exactly focus the image on the film behind the frame 20. This reflection is the same'as that employed in other reflex cameras, and the image on the, ground glass" 32 shows the top and bottom of the field in correct relationbut right'andleft are reversed. No description of the reflex camera mechanism is necessary for a full understanding ofthis"invention.

"Above the ground glass '32 ther'e another-re fiector'35 for-changing the directiori'bf thelight' image;

sion. It will be evident that this lens 45 can be at other locations within the optical system, but the focal length of the lens 45 must be different for different locations within the system.

The reflection of the light beam from the refiector 35 to the reflector 38 changes the relation of the right and left sides of the field as will be evident from the dot and dash lines 51 and 52 which represent the extreme edges of the Since the right and left sides of the field are reversed in the image on the ground glass 32, the subsequent reversal of the sides'by the reflectors 35 and 38 produces an image at the eyepiece of the optical system with the right and left sides ofth field'in proper relation.

All of the reflecting surfaces can be mirrors. A prism can be used in place of the mirror reflector 38, anda compound prism can be employed to take the "place'of the simple'prism 36 and reflecting 'mirror" 38; Such a compound prism would have angular faces corresponding to the reflector 35 and mirror 38; and" turn-the lightbeamin thesameway as the il-l'ustrated optical system. It is a feature of the in'vention, however, that the reflectors 35 and 38 are separated, instead of being combined in a single contour of the prisms, may beshaped to pro-,

duce. an enlarged or a reduced image. For example, ifithe'ref iector 35 is a reducingmirror.

it can be of smaller size and still reflect the entire fieldof the ground glass. To oif setthe reduction in image size when a reducing reflector is used above the ground glass, the reflector 38 can be shaped to enlarge the image, or a lens system can be used to obtain the enlargement.

By having the eyepiece l2 at the corner of the casing it is possible for a person to hold the camera so that he can place his eye up against the eyepiece without having the back of the. camera strike against his nose. The comparatively small eyepiece held close to the eye locates the camera in such a position that the head blocks any direct rays of light from getting into the optical system and thus makes it possible to focus at the stop used for photographing.

It is not necessary to have the eyepiece in a different corner of the casing for right-eyed or left-eyed persons because the eyepiece can be brought up against the other eyeby merely turning the camera upside down. This corner location of the eyepiece makes it possibl to bring the eyepiece up against either the right or left eye for either horizontal or vertical pictures.

When using the camera under adverse conditions, for example, when ther is sunlight or other bright light coming from one side, the image seen through the eyepiece [2 appears brighter if an eyeshield 53 is used on the side of the eyepiece nearest bright light. Figure 2 shows the shield 53 connected to the back of the casing by a hinge 54 and folded down against the easing into a protected positionwhen not in use. There is a depressed region in the back of the casing around the eyepiece l2 for receiving the shield 53 when folded in against the casing.

Figure 4 shows the shield 53 in its extended position for protecting an observers' eye'from sunlight, or other bright light coming from one side. There is a similar shield 56 hinged to the back of the camera by a hinge 51 extending at right angles to the hinge 54. This second shield 5'6 is used when the camera is held in a vertica position.

It will be apparent from Figure 1 that the prism 36 is oversize, that is, both the face through which light enters the prism, and the light outlet face of the prism, are longer and wider than the cross-section of the light beam that is transmitted through the optical system. This means that neither of the triangular ends of th prism are used. The purpose of blanking off the triangular ends of the prism is to block 01f extraneous images that are otherwise visible. A mask 49 immediately beyond the light-outlet face of the :prism 36 blocks off the light reflected from the ends of the face 35 and also blocks the view of the sides of the prism and the side edges of the reflecting surface 35. obstructing the view of the edges avoids an optical illusion that makes lines appear to convergetoward one end of the field. v

When a mirror is used for the reflector 35, the masking 49 can be employed as withthe prism, and/or masking can be applied along the sides of the mirror reflector. The width of such a mirror reflector, either by masking Or otherwise, should be made to decrease toward the upper end of the mirror so that nothing outside of the mask 33 is visible.

V Figure 5 shows a mirror reflector 60 that can be used in place of the reflecting surface 35 of prism 36. This figure is a view looking at the reflector along a plane corresponding to the plane 3--3 of Figure 1. Figure 5 also shows masking 6| along the edges of the mirror 60, and the way in which. themasking: converges and "the'reflecting. areaof-the mirror progressivelydecreases toward its upperend. 2 i i i The optical systemillustrated obtains a bright image with top and bottom,:as we'llas' the right 'andleft sides,'in correct relatiom-andobtains a magnified image which represents the image to be formed onthe film, without increasing appreciably the depth of the camera and without requiring much.increasein'the'length of the camera casing. Th preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described. Terms of orientation are, of "courseprelative. Changes and modifications can be made' without departing from the invention as defined in the claims. w i lclaim' as my inventions f 1. A roll-film camera including a casing, supporting means for holding two film -spools for rotation about spaced, upright and parallel axes at opposite sides of the casing and in a fore-andaft zone of the casing, a'support at the-front' of the casing for holding 'a lens for adr'nitting' light to expose a length. of film between the spools,'-a reflex finder system includinga ground glass, a reflector directly behind the lens and between the film spools in the same fore-and-aft zone of the casing, said reflector having a surface oriented to reflect light upward against the ground glass, a second reflector surface located within the same fore-and-aft zone as the film spools and in position to reflect light from the ground glass toward one side of the camera, a third reflector surface which is also within the same fore-and-aft zone as the film spools and in position to reflect light from the second surface downward, and a fourth reflector also in the same fore-and-aft zone with the film spools and in position to reflect the down- Wardly directed light from the third reflector to an optical opening in the casing at which open ing the image is seen erect and with correct sides. 2. A camera comprising a casing in which there are holders for film spools thatrotate about spaced, upright and parallelaxes in a fore-andaft zone of the camera casing; a lens at the front of the casing in position ,to admit light to expose aportion of the film at a film gate between the spools, a reflex finder system including a ground glass, 3, reflector located directly behind the lens and between the film spools inthe same fore-andaft zone in the casing with the filmspools, said reflector-having a surface in position to reflect light from the lens upward against the ground glass, a second reflector located above the ground glass and in the same foreand-aft zone as the film spools and at such'an angle that it reflects light from the ground glasstoward one side of the camera, a third reflector in' the light beam from the second reflector and alsolocated within the same fore-and-aft zoneof thecamera casing'with the film spools, said third reflector being at such an angle to the light beamfrom the second reflector that it reflects the light beam downward, a fourth reflectorxthat receives the downwardly directed light beam from the third reflector, said fourth reflector being set at such an anglein the casing thatit deflects the light beam from the third reflector rearwardly through an optical opening in the back of the casing, at which opening the image is seen. erect and with correct sides, and a lens through which the light beam passes and by which the image seen through the optical opening is magnified.

3. A roll film camera having a casing having a back of a shape that has corners, an optical openmg throtighmhich; lighhpassesathrough :the ibaok ;ofthe l casinghat "one {OfaZSE-id corners, bearings within the casing for holding,-film spools for rotation -ab out2 .spacednuprightiand lparallell axes at oppositesiides ofzthezcasinglandjn adore-and- .aftzone of.ithe'casing, aplens :supportat theifront of the casingz-for-holdinga lens-that admitsrlight xnoseiar'length of l-film ata. film gate; between h sp ols, a irefiexccfinder system includingna. IQ n lasshagreflector. locatedxdirectly rbehind th enslandbetweenthefilm spools imthersame folieo-andraftwone of ;the casing lwithothetfilm sm l esaidrefiector having-alsuriace oriented-etc refle i ht;upward against ztheigrouncleglass n second ,LIQflECiEOI :locatedslwithin the same aforeand-aft zone as the film spools and in positionato reflect light from theigroundiglassetoward one side oftthe camera atthirdreflector.which .is also in-ythesame;forerand afta 20118188 v.thezfilm.spools and in osition ltopreflect lightfrom' thelsecond L axes atoppositeasides-chime;.easingwaxlenssupp rt on the; front of the leasing iorholdin a lens in position to fixposeia: picture; on the-filmatea film at lbetweenthe spqo1s,;la. .reflex nnder sysem l d hesaeneund glassua'reflecton behind the lensand in thesame i esandeait zone'nr-the a n a t lml s ool esaidireflector beinoset at an angle V to; reflectglightzheams upward from the len to; the ground glass, ia SQQOIId'g-tlfifiBCfiOl above the ground glass inl-pqd l iml; JJoJrefiect .light from the rqun eelas .towardone side; of: the 1 camera, .a third reflector that refleotsibhe. l ght beam from h -second efiectorrdownwan iint c s n a r t- 3 1 d flecto in P siti n c o rr fifiC t [light om the :ihird .-refl ctora-lreamatdly l h eu hvien re l le-o nin ;..in:thei;backi-in; the I ee 1 =9 :-i i a ee er i ein ;located intthe Same 9 T6=e ea -:9 ei of; t z am ra .easin gas fil 1S th opt ca openin .inzth io the :eafieebein ocate ietaw men;of the casing so that; the optical openingycamlm located 01958130311 observers eye without'having ny: pa t o th asin extend ac os in rfrontiof theobserversnose. p i

roll" meree ncl dine a l'cee neneuo portingpmeans 7 for holding two film spools 3 ior a ab q di;unr e ndsparanel axe at op ites d sofv h lp e nea z na-e-ior -a aft zone-of the casing a holder-jon supporting a lens for admitting light-to: exposea length of l at l e is ob twee t w-seeds a1 refle vs e e i n ll di lsme de ass l tor directly .behind the lensmnd in the h nge; iota-,- andraft z nela th q el e n,enesitiq otqir fleet llight from i the lens upward against the ground v la'ss,, 'a ,prisfmi located ,within the same fore-and aft zone asltheffilm spools; and having a surface in; position to reflect lightrfromjthe ground j'glass' toward one; side of the easing, a thirdrefiector which is' also within the same fore-and-aft zoneas the film spoolsandin posi- Y r .1 tion" to--refiect light from-' the prism downward,

a fourth reflector also im-the same 'fore-and aft zone as the filmlspoolsand'. in ipOSitiOlI tO reflect lightrfrom the third reflector to an optical opening .inl the teasing at .which opening the image .is seenoerectand with-correotsides-said prism lzieinglof ea larger size :than i, necessary for urenflecting the entire crossrsection of. the light. beam lfromvzthedgroundlglass, and a mask beyondthe light outlet surface of lthelprism for blocking lightsthat passes;thr0ugh .portions of the suraiace, 10f, thevlight outlet face of the prism near certain edges oi the, prism so that the. illuminated field of visionvisible through the finder is limited to .theuimage .on the .ground glass.

6. A roll-film camera including a casing, sup- .portingjmeans-iior holding two film .spools lforl-rotationaboutlspaced,upright andv parallel taxes at oppositesides. of thelcasingand in a-foreeandraft zonei ofyfthe casing,- asupport at the front Y ofxthe casing :liOI', holding .a lens :ior admitting light-to xexn sea length oflfilm between the spools, areflex I finder system including a ground .glass, a

reflector directly ,behindithe "lens ..and between the fihnSIJOOlS inthe same fore-and-aft zone of the i casing, said 'refiector having :a surface =.ori-

The following-references are of'recordlin the file of this patent:

. UNITED TA ES :EA'IENTS Number .Name Date -:.1,023,931 ilFolmer Apr. 23, 1912 ,65 A Roach Feb. 10,1925 :11 139,579 Kucharski May 26,1925 11531303 @Washington June l, 1927 1,687,030 ,iMitchell Oct49; 1928 1-,77 7;419 Ross Oct. 7,1930 1,840,227 zDei-Testa Jan-5, 1932 22*,0051214 :Tondi'eau June 18, 1935 2436,148 Nuchterlein Nov. 8, 1938 2,149,217 ruHeifisChret a1. Feb. 28, 1939 2,165,903 Nuchterlein :July 11, 1939 ,2,,219 ,3l4 vHoohv s Oct. 29,11940 223025 'lgloohwn Feb. 4, l9. 2,28%, 6 Di tman.- Mayg fin 2,285,456 Nowland June 9,1942 2,32 3;005 gBertele v June .29, 194 2,352,177 gBolsey June 27, 1944 r 2,442,327 r ,V Soreny May 25, 19.48

- FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 884,054

,Eran'ce Apr. 12, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES Ser;No 30fl,'702, Iuppenbender (A. P. c. pu lished May 4, 1 3. 

